What have we all been doing? (At least in May)

WELL OH WELL……
Jako and Ben have been attempting  to remove the water pump from the dry well by the orphanage.  Despite their best effort (pulling and winching with a pulley system and the Land Rover, and then a brand new 3 ton block and tackle etc), the pump proved to be stuck so severely that it’s future is unknown.  It is likely that someone from the village intentionally sabotaged this well meaning to do it harm.  So then men then tackled plan B – uncovering the second previously dry well which now seems to have water in it.  The hope was that the hole was still clear and open and that by inserting plastic piping they could put the new pump down it and get it working.  Unfortunately they found it full of sand and after creatively trying to drill/flush it out with water, they concluded that this hole was probably purposefully sabotaged and filled as well.  Bad news – they couldn’t get it working.  Good news – there is water down there and it seems it is just sand filling it (not solid rock like before) so maybe God will provide another way for us to remove that with a smaller/local drilling rig.  Please keep this situation in your prayers.
Ben has made himself useful in helping with various other work  projects going around here and has formed quite a friendship with Charles our local security guard/foreman.  Many days found him helping Charles with brick runs, digging trenches for running electricity to the tent’s new location and to the outside shower and toilet area, fixing the doors for the team toilets and showers, helping with the tent move- digging and relocating tent poles, distributing clothes to the orphans, cutting the kids hair (and encouraging them to try a new hair-do – the one pictured didn’t last), and helping Charles with harvesting his personal crop so that he would be free sooner to keep helping us around here.
Jako’s “Chief” Issue
Apart from all the general maintenance and fixing that Jako has had to do around here, (not to mention laying electrical lines to the outside shower, tent and toilet, rebuilding a completely new tent door, getting two lights installed in the house, and hooking up the generator electricity to the orphanage house) May has found Jako traveling back and  forth to the chief (2 hours drive one way) and the district council in Kazungula (4 –5 hours away) in order to sort out land issues that arose a few weeks back.  Thanks for all of the prayers that went out on the matter.   In short, it seems that the Chief has been hearing lots of rumors, lies, and villagers complaining about us (due to promises that were made from visitors of ours many years ago that didn't follow through on things) and in the end God brought Truth to light.  Not only did the chief promise his protection once again, he also straightened out those that were spreading the rumors and allowing them to circulate.  The headmen that went with Jako were very supportive of the project as are most of the villagers and community around us.  It just goes to show how a few people, spreading false witness, can do a lot of damage.  The Chief, headmen, and Jako had a good heart to heart talk and in the end the Chief ended up going with to the district council in order to sort out the situation of who is in charge of the land and make sure that we are not being taken advantage of.  That meeting went much better than expected and now everyone is on the same page, with unified support of the project and understanding of what we are doing and where we hope to grow and expand.
Please continue to keep the Chief in your prayers.  While he confesses to be a Christian and seems to be trying to follow after God's way he is under tremendous pressure from the community and his council to continue in the traditional ways.  He seems to be at an important crossroad where he is surrounded by people trying to help disciple and lead him and many trying to lead him in the ancestral and traditional ways as well.  We continue to pray for him and as we believe that, at least now, his heart is earnest.  In fact, his comment to Jako was "Don't worry - God will work everything out for you".  We pray that the truth will continue to deepen and take root in the Chiefs heart so that he can influence many more for God's kingdom.
Alyssa teaching already…

Alyssa has been active teaching  the kids at the orphanage  math, reading and English.  In fact, when the moms saw what a benefit she was to them, they asked her to help them with their English as well.  The mom’s now enjoy their twice weekly meetings with Alyssa and the hope is that as she teaches them English, the mom’s will in turn teach her the Tonga equivalent that she will then teach to us : )  The kids are really enjoying the nightly reading program that Alyssa has set up with them, being able to borrow and “read” different books which is a true rarity out here in the bush.  On top of all of this Alyssa was able to visit both of the local schools that the kids attend and talk to their teachers to hear how they were doing and what areas they most needed to work on.  Did I also mention all the work she spent sorting through the donations and organizing new clothes for the kids at the orphanage?

 

One exciting thing that Jako and Alyssa were able to do on those visits was bring a  huge smile to the teachers and kids at the two local schools by surprising them with a donation of soccer uniforms and a new soccer ball (Thanks Idlewild Church in Tampa, Fl).   We can only imagine what pride and sense of self worth it will bring to the kids as the compete against other teams in their “new” uniforms and we pray that every time they see them they will be reminded of their father’s love and provision for them.

Part time Eye doctor?
May also found Alyssa busy acting as “eye doctor” for the chief and his entire counsel.  During one of the meetings Jako had with the chief, he noticed that the chief was having a hard time reading some of the paperwork.  Jako asked him about it and soon after Jako was offering the services of Alyssa who had been trained last year with the eye-doc-in-a-box program.  Two days later both of them went back to the chief where she promptly examined him and all three of his wives.  All but one needed and received glasses.  On another visit, the chief requested if there was any way that they could come to look at the eyes of all of his chief council members.  With all that he had done for us, we felt we could hardly refuse so a few days later, they took the few hour trek though the bush to examine all of them.   In the end more than 15 pairs of glasses were distributed and plans were made to have the team from Va come and do the full eye program for the entire chief’s area the end of July.  The neat thing about this opportunity is that along with many receiving the physical gift of sight through eye glasses,  all that are examined are given the opportunity to hear the gospel and look at spiritual things in a way they might not have “seen” before.  We look forward to seeing what God will do through this program in July and ask for your prayers in the preparation process of this. 
And what about Amber?
Apart from not feeling very good lately (more on that in the next update) Amber has been busy keeping up with Jakob (the best missionary around here we still say because of the way that the  community is always drawn to him), handling all the admin work of finances, correspondence, and documentation, general supervising, encouragement and training of the house mothers, food and toiletries stock and weekly distribution for the orphanage, plus taking care of the household duties of cooking, cleaning, laundry – that allow the ministry here to continue on a daily basis.  Much thanks to Alyssa for  stepping in and helping in almost all of these areas on the days that Amber was not feeling too good.  She has proved not only to be an excellent cook, caretaker for Jakob (who absolutely adores her), great multi-tasker, but also a wonderful friend in the process.  Thanks for being so flexible Alyssa and for standing in the gap.  God knew what we needed when he sent us you.